You’ll love New Zealand’s affordable fresh cuisine and world-class wines and beers. We’re a major producer of pasture-fed lamb, venison and beef. Dairy products, fruit and vegetables are abundant and inexpensive.
Food outlets range from casual cafes to formal, more expensive, restaurants. You’re never far from a ‘takeaway’ shop for fish and chips – an enduring national favourite.
The legal age for drinking or buying alcohol is 18. Supermarkets sell alcohol 7 days a week, and may ask to see your passport or drivers licence as proof of age. Drunk driving is a serious offence and police do random breath tests.
New Zealand wines are highly regarded internationally. Restaurants may have a full liquor licence or a BYO licence so you can bring your own bottle of wine, for a small corkage fee.
New Zealand’s multi-cultural society is reflected in the wide range of ethnic restaurants in our cities. Suburban shopping malls have food courts - areas where you can try different dishes for a very reasonable price. Weekend markets are a good place to find Asian vegetables and other ethnic ingredients.
Supermarkets are the cheapest places to buy groceries. Most supermarkets provide plastic bags but some are ‘pack your own’. Most supermarkets have an organic section. There are also specialist stores that stock a large range of Demeter, Bio Gro and other organic brands. Weekend fruit and vege markets are held in most towns and cities.